Transporting system for an installation, in particular a production, packaging, filling, assembly and/or processing installation

Abstract

A transportation system for production, packaging, filling, assembly and/or processing installation, comprising a carrier system having a conveying section and having a multiplicity of carrier elements, a first drive device, wherein the carrier elements have in each case one coupling mechanism by which the carrier elements are capable of being coupled to the first drive device for a movement along the conveying section, at least one second drive device, wherein the carrier elements can be coupled to the at least one second drive device by the coupling mechanism for a movement along the conveying section, and at least one switching mechanism that is positioned on the conveying section, wherein the coupling mechanisms of the carrier elements are capable of being coupled selectively to one of the drive devices by the at least one switching mechanism for a movement along the conveying section.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A transportation system for an installation, in particular a production, packaging, filling, assembly and/or processing installation, comprising:
 a carrier system having a conveying section and having a multiplicity of carrier elements; 
 a first drive device, 
 at least one second drive device and at least one switching mechanism that is positioned on the conveying section, 
 wherein the first drive device and the at least one second drive device are in each case capable of being operated at a variable conveying speed that is established so as to be specific to the application, 
 wherein the first and the at least one second drive device are operated in an electronically and/or mechanically synchronized manner by way of dissimilar operating modes selected from the group comprising continuous transportation, single-index transportation, double-index transportation, and multiple-index transportation, 
 wherein the carrier elements have in each case one coupling mechanism by means of which the carrier elements for a movement along the conveying section are capable of being coupled to the first drive device and to the at least one second drive device, and 
 wherein by means of the at least one switching mechanism the coupling mechanisms of the carrier elements for a movement along the conveying section are selectively coupled to one of the drive devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first drive device extends at least across one first portion of the conveying section, and the second drive device extends at least across one second portion of the conveying section, wherein the first portion and the second portion are mutually overlapping. 
     
     
       3. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the at least one second drive device are designed as a gear rack drive, chain drive, belt drive, rake drive, worm drive, and/or linear motor drive, wherein the first and the at least one second drive device are preferably of an identical construction mode. 
     
     
       4. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier elements function as a coupling mechanism and/or have in each case one coupling mechanism that is rigidly disposed on the carrier element, wherein the carrier elements by means of the switching mechanism are relocatable transversely to the conveying section in order for the drive device to be changed. 
     
     
       5. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism of a carrier element comprises at least one adjustable coupling block which by means of the at least one switching mechanism for a movement along the conveying section is capable of being coupled to at least one of the drive devices and is capable of being decoupled from the at least one further drive device. 
     
     
       6. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the switching mechanism has at least one baffle that is disposed on the conveying section, wherein the carrier element and/or the coupling block by means of the baffle are/is adjustable, in particular displaceable, from a first position in which said carrier element and/or said coupling block interact/s with the first drive device to a second position in which said carrier element and/or coupling block interact/s with a second drive device. 
     
     
       7. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier elements during a change of the drive device in a transition region do not interact with any drive device, wherein the carrier elements by means of successive carrier elements are movable in a passive manner along the conveying section. 
     
     
       8. The transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conveying section comprises at least one guide rail on which the carrier elements are guided in a passive manner, or by means of one of the drive devices are guided in a displaceable manner. 
     
     
       9. An installation, in particular a production, packaging, filling, assembly and/or processing installation, comprising a transportation system as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       10. A method for transporting carrier elements in an installation, in particular a production, packaging, filling, assembly and/or processing installation, wherein the carrier elements by means of in each case one coupling mechanism for a movement along a conveying section are selectively coupled to a first drive device or at least one second drive device,
 wherein the first drive device and the at least one second drive device are in each case are operated at a variable conveying speed that established so as to be specific to the application, 
 wherein the first and the at least one second drive device are operated in an electronically and/or mechanically synchronized manner by way of dissimilar operating modes selected from the group comprising continuous transportation, single-index transportation, double-index transportation, and multiple-index transportation, 
 wherein the carrier elements are coupled to the first drive device for a movement along the conveying section in a first operating modus, and 
 by means of a switching mechanism the coupling mechanisms of the carrier elements are decoupled from the first drive device and for a movement along the conveying section in a second operating modus are coupled to the at least one second drive device.